Tony Gagarin: Biography

TONY GAGARIN
Tony Gagarin began by playing flute and guitar in various rock-bands at the age of 17. In the early 1970s, he attended a Santana concert in which John Lee Hooker was the opening act. Tony was amazed how a solo performer could keep an audience spellbound with the sound of a single guitar. After that he left the band form,at to concentrate as a solo acoustic performer. Growing up on the East Coast, he began writing original songs and performed as a street musician in NYC and various small clubs from Pennsylvania to New Hampshire. He continued his studies by attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Whilst performing at the New England Folk Festival, he met folk artist Kate Wolf and decide to see what the music scene in California was all about.	In 1977 Tony moved out to Sonoma County. The creative energy in the area was enough for him to decide to stay for good. In those days he could be seen performing frequently at the West Of Laguna in Sebastopol, becoming good friends with Nina Gerber and at certain shows, Nina would show up unexpectantly and perform with Tony, the combination leaving the audience wanting more. Still concentrating as a solo performer, Tony usually carries an arsenal of guitars. "This way the audience gets to hear the different textures of the music" he explains. His stage set up usually consists of his 12 string guitar, 2xGuild 6 string guitars, various harmonicas and his baby blue DOBRO steel guitar. This way he can shift his show from a quiet instrumental to a searing blues tune combining the harmonica and slide guitar that's sure to rock the house.	Tony has opened for artists including Jean Richie and Melissa Ferrick whilst also teaching guitar workshops at the Sonoma County Folk Festival. After numerous requests from audience members wanting to buy his CD and having nothing to give them, Tony went into the studio in 1998 and with the help of a bevvy of talented musicians including Nina Gerber, Sam Page, Allegra Broughton, Gus Garelick, Art Cavagnaro and others, the CD "One Lifetime's Not Enough" is soon to be released on Jackalope Records. Included on the disc are four instrumentals, both the positive and painful sides of love and a cover tune of Robert Johnson's "Rambling Blues" ( a requested favorite at his shows ) Click little Joe to sample a track from Tony's latest CD.

TONY GAGARIN

Tony Gagarin began by playing flute and guitar in various rock-bands at the age of 17. In the early 1970s, he attended a Santana concert in which John Lee Hooker was the opening act. Tony was amazed how a solo performer could keep an audience spellbound with the sound of a single guitar. After that he left the band form,at to concentrate as a solo acoustic performer.
Growing up on the East Coast, he began writing original songs and performed as a street musician in NYC and various small clubs from Pennsylvania to New Hampshire. He continued his studies by attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Whilst performing at the New England Folk Festival, he met folk artist Kate Wolf and decide to see what the music scene in California was all about.

In 1977 Tony moved out to Sonoma County. The creative energy in the area was enough for him to decide to stay for good. In those days he could be seen performing frequently at the West Of Laguna in Sebastopol, becoming good friends with Nina Gerber and at certain shows, Nina would show up unexpectantly and perform with Tony, the combination leaving the audience wanting more.
Still concentrating as a solo performer, Tony usually carries an arsenal of guitars. "This way the audience gets to hear the different textures of the music" he explains. His stage set up usually consists of his 12 string guitar, 2xGuild 6 string guitars, various harmonicas and his baby blue DOBRO steel guitar. This way he can shift his show from a quiet instrumental to a searing blues tune combining the harmonica and slide guitar that's sure to rock the house.

Tony has opened for artists including Jean Richie and Melissa Ferrick whilst also teaching guitar workshops at the Sonoma County Folk Festival.
After numerous requests from audience members wanting to buy his CD and having nothing to give them, Tony went into the studio in 1998 and with the help of a bevvy of talented musicians including Nina Gerber, Sam Page, Allegra Broughton, Gus Garelick, Art Cavagnaro and others, the CD "One Lifetime's Not Enough" is soon to be released on Jackalope Records. Included on the disc are four instrumentals, both the positive and painful sides of love and a cover tune of Robert Johnson's "Rambling Blues" ( a requested favorite at his shows )

Click little Joe to sample a track from Tony's latest CD.